Beth Mead: ‘I told Saka just to curtsy when he sees me!’
The Arsenal and England footballer on her MBE, her terrible singing voice – and the best and worst year of her life
Dogger to the rescue: how my mother’s books brought joy to the children of Ukraine
After the death last year of children’s author Shirley Hughes, her son took hundreds of her books, including the award-winning Dogger, to libraries in Ukraine
Michael Roberts obituary
Fashion journalist and illustrator who helped transform Tatler magazine into a leading glossy
Judy Blume: book banning now much worse in US than in 1980s
Children’s and young adult author of 1970 book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret says growing intolerance must be challenged
Mary Rayner obituary
Children’s author who devised the adventures of the Pig family and illustrated stories including Dick King-Smith’s The Sheep-Pig
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books
A pair of historical novels focus on different aspects of the 70s, while gender identity is a theme in an array of strong new adventures
The Detention Detectives by Lis Jardine review – top-grade misbehaviour
Pupils investigate a murder at school in this entertaining noir lite for young readers
Steer clear of ‘mediocre writing’ by celebrities for Christmas, authors plead
Books by TV personalities and other high-profile figures will top bestseller lists, but critics say professionals lose out
The best children’s books of 2022
From a four-legged celebration of the seasons to a fiery tale of women who turn into dragons, our critics look back over the year and pick their favourite titles for children and young adults
Best children’s and YA books of 2022
Journeys through music, history, magic and more, plus the standout books for young adults
‘At first she didn’t like my drawings’: Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson on three decades of collaboration
In a rare joint interview, the creators of The Gruffalo talk about baddies, Brexit – and the bumpy beginning to their partnership
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books
Estranged friends navigate a sleeping world, a boy discovers he is part-alien, and the hunt for a missing mother touches lightly on mental health issues
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books
Marcus Rashford channels Scooby-Doo, more girls solve mysteries, while two historical young Black Britons join forces in theatreland
Fiction for older children reviews – magic and morality, beyond Marvel
Norse gods get a fresh incarnation from Louie Stowell and the multiverse offers up a moral dilemma in Ross Welford’s latest
Jan Pieńkowski obituary
Illustrator and creator of the Meg and Mog children’s books, who also used pop-up and paper cut-outs to thrilling effect